Philadelphia 76ers Hopes Go Beyond 2017 NBA Draft.

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty draft picks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; A general view of a video board displaying all thirty draft picks in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
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Dec 18, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) dives to keep the ball in play during the fourth quarter of the game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers won the game 108-107.Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) dives to keep the ball in play during the fourth quarter of the game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers won the game 108-107.Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports

Rapid Pulse

And so, the pattern of looking forward to “next year’s draft” is incredibly popular.   Some discuss the team needs as though this is a veteran team with glaring holes in the roster.

It’s not.

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Swarm and Sting

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  • What this team has right now is a roster with answers at each position. On top of that, we simply need the patience to let it happen.

    Of course, the 2017 NBA Draft, or any draft for that matter, is coming. As such it brings the opportunity to find young prospects who can deliver beyond the scope of the roster of this team on this day. I get that.

    Filling Holes

    Filling holes is one of the primary functions of the NBA draft for each team.  But right now, the 76ers have invested high upside young players at each position. Each player takes at least a minimum of a full year to give the head coach enough to assess the floor and ceiling of that player. Meanwhile, the fans have already begun to cast their hopes upon a new crop of talent yet to become indoctrinated to the rigors, pressure, and pace of the NBA. Let’s not place the cart before the horse here.

    From the moment Joel Embiid and Dario Saric joined the 2016 NBA Draft crop for the Philadelphia 76ers, a pulse of young talent entered the Philadelphia 76ers pipeline.  Add Simmons, Luwawu, and other prospects and the 2016-2017 season has become drinking water out of a fire hose.